Pingquan City Travel
Pingquan City, Chengde, Hebei Province - known as 'the birthplace of Khitan and the source of the Liaohe River', is an important birthplace of Khitan culture. It is home to scenic spots such as Liaohe Source National Forest Park and Zezhou Garden, combining primitive ecological scenery with profound historical heritage. A 2-day 1-night short trip to unlock the Khitan cultural code and the beauty of landscape ecology.
2-Day 1-Night Khitan Culture Tour in Pingquan City
Explore the source of the Liaohe River, trace Khitan ancestral relics, taste mutton soup flavor, and experience the integration of history and nature of 'the No.1 Spring north of Beijing'
In the morning, go deep into Liaohe Source National Forest Park to explore the source of the Liaohe River and walk in the primeval forest; in the afternoon, climb to the top of Guangtu Mountain to overlook the spectacle of interweaving grasslands and forests; in the evening, walk into the Mutton Soup Cultural Industry Park to taste authentic Pingquan Mutton Soup.
- Liaohe Source Scenic Area Homestay
- Pingquan Urban Area Hotels
- Wangtufang Township Hot Spring Resort
- Pingquan Mutton Soup
- Gai Dao Rou (Sliced Pork)
- Nansha Cake
- Eight Bowls
- Liaohe Source Scenic Area is large, self-driving or taking scenic spot sightseeing bus (¥40/person) is recommended
- Hiking Guangtu Mountain takes 3-4 hours, prepare enough drinking water and dry food
- There is a soup boiling skill performance in Mutton Soup Industry Park every evening (starts at 19:00)
In the morning, visit Zezhou Garden to experience the integration of Khitan culture and garden landscapes; in the afternoon, visit Pingquan Museum to systematically understand Khitan history; in the evening, explore Huizhou City Ruins to trace the rise and fall of the ancient military town.
- Zezhou Garden is located in the urban area, accessible by bus No.1 and No.3
- Pingquan Museum is in Zezhou Garden, reachable on foot
- Huizhou City Ruins is about 15 km from the urban area, self-driving or taxi (¥30) is recommended
- Khitan costume photo taking in Zezhou Garden (¥50/set)
- AR Khitan history experience in the museum
- Archaeological research study at Huizhou City Ruins (reservation required)
- Learning to make intangible cultural heritage Nansha Cake
- Pingquan City is about 90 km from Chengde urban area, 1.5 hours by self-driving
- Pingquan Station has high-speed trains to Chengde and Beijing (about 1.5 hours to Beijing)
- Recommended souvenirs: vacuum-packed mutton soup and Nansha Cake, available in urban supermarkets
Must-Try Foods in Pingquan City
Pingquan Mutton Soup
The iconic food of Pingquan, originated in the Qing Dynasty. Made from local goats through processes such as "boiling, stewing, blanching and simmering", it has milky white soup and tender meat. Served with baked sesame seed cake, it is known as "China's No.1 Soup", and its making technique is listed as intangible cultural heritage.
Gai Dao Rou (Sliced Pork)
A traditional famous dish in Pingquan. Pork is cut into shreds as thin as hair and stir-fried with dried bamboo shoots. It has exquisite knife skills and a delicious taste. Named after the "knife modification" skill of imperial chefs in the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it is a combination of palace cuisine and folk flavor.
Nansha Cake
A traditional pastry in Pingquan, made from flour, white sugar and lard through multiple processes. It has a crispy crust and sweet filling. Named after its origin in the Nansha River area of Pingquan, it was a tribute in the Qing Dynasty and is now an intangible cultural heritage food.
Eight Bowls
A folk banquet in Pingquan, consisting of eight braised dishes, mostly made of pork, chicken, tofu and other ingredients. Steamed in traditional pottery bowls, it is rich but not greasy, reflecting the local festival food culture, and is commonly seen in important occasions such as weddings and funerals.
- Summer (June-August): Summer resort at Liaohe Source, cool temperature
- Autumn (September-October): Rich mountain forest colors, suitable for photography
- Winter (December-February): Can experience hot springs, fewer tourists
- Pingquan Mutton Soup
- Gai Dao Rou (Sliced Pork)
- Nansha Cake
- Eight Bowls
- Braised Chicken with Mountain Mushrooms
- Tickets: ¥100-200 (main scenic spots)
- Accommodation: ¥120-240/night
- Catering: ¥60-120/day
- Transportation: ¥50-100 (including county transportation)
- Total: ¥500-1000
- How long to spend at Liaohe Source? → It is recommended to spend the whole day, including forest hiking and Guangtu Mountain climbing
- Which restaurant has the most authentic Pingquan Mutton Soup? → Both "Time-honored Mutton Soup Restaurant" in the urban area and the one in the cultural industry park are inheritors of intangible cultural heritage
- Is there an age limit for Khitan culture experience? → No, the museum's AR experience is suitable for parent-child participation
- Is Huizhou City Ruins worth visiting? → Suitable for history enthusiasts, ordinary tourists are recommended to visit with museum explanations